SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of
advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced a first step of a
security lifecycle management solution on the Renesas Synergy™ Platform
for customers who build devices connecting to the Internet of Things
(IoT). Renesas, together with partners Data
I/O Corporation (NASDAQ: DAIO) and Secure
Thingz, offer a secure firmware flash
programming solution enabling customers to reliably and securely program
authorized firmware into the flash memory of Synergy Microcontrollers
(MCUs) in remote manufacturing facilities and in the field, while
protecting firmware from being modified, pirated, or installed on cloned
hardware.

OEMs building connected IoT devices face risks that include product
disruption, system hijacking, eavesdropping, IP theft, and product
cloning. Without the proper security, these devices can be exploited to
shut down or damage vital industrial infrastructure or cause injury.
Given the increased complexity of the global supply chain, extra
diligence is needed to ensure that the integrity and authenticity of a
product is maintained in the production environment and not compromised
throughout the entire manufacturing cycle regardless of the location and
security level and capabilities of the Contract Manufacturer’s (CM’s) or
OEM’s manufacturing personnel and processes. The secure flash
programming solution based on the Synergy Platform enables OEMs to
maintain product integrity and authenticity without such dependencies on
the CM’s capabilities.

A chain-of-trust starts with the delivery of a Synergy MCU with hardware
security features to a secure programming center where a unique
root-of-trust is installed on each MCU with equipment provided by Data
I/O. The next step in the chain is for the OEM to use tools provided by
Data I/O and Secure Thingz to author their firmware such that it is
encrypted, signed, and provisioned to specific MCUs. After this, the
Synergy MCUs can be shipped to the OEM or CM facility. Once in the
field, the authored firmware can be securely updated into the MCUs’
flash memory with the on-chip root-of-trust being used to validate and
decrypt the firmware before flash programming – all securely taking
place within the Synergy MCUs that provide hardware protected memory
segments integrated with an asymmetric cryptographic engine to validate
and decrypt the firmware. This eliminates concern for IP theft, piracy,
and product cloning.

Renesas provides the Synergy MCU and Synergy’s security reference
solution that deliver a strong root-of-trust through a unique identity,
hardware protected keys, a secure boot loader, a secure flash update
module, and cryptographic API’s that interface with the MCU hardware.

Data I/O provides the SentriXTM Security Programming
Platform, a highly flexible, cost-effective security provisioning and
data programming solution for authentication devices, secure elements
and secure MCUs that enables the secure provisioning in a secure
manufacturing environment or programming center. The SentriXPlatform
contains the Secure Thingz’s Guardian with integrated HSM (Hardware
Security Module), which allows for the SentriX Platform and the Secure
Deploy suite to work together seamlessly to protect firmware and
critical data.

“Renesas Synergy’s security reference solution empowers OEMs to deliver
and manage a trusted IoT device. When used with the SentriX Security
Programming Platform and Secure Deploy, Synergy MCUs plus the associated
software, tools, and infrastructure allow OEMs to protect their software
IP from modification, theft and cloning,” said Brian Davis, Vice
President of Synergy IoT Platform Business Division, Renesas Electronics
Corporation. “In addition, the solution enables remote systems to be
safely updated over the product lifecycle with new protections for
evolving security attacks and hacking technologies.”

Customers interested in evaluating the solution may obtain an evaluation
kit that includes a DK-S7G2 Synergy Development Kit, tools, Synergy’s
security reference solution, and an evaluation version of Secure Deploy.
Once customers have evaluated the solution, it can be deployed into
manufacturing in conjunction with Data I/O’s SentriXSecurity
Programming Platform. Customers can work with Secure Thingz to deploy a
remote update solution.

“IoT OEMs are increasingly concerned with vulnerabilities in connected
devices and are turning to various types of secure microcontrollers to
embed trust, enable a secure supply chain, and establish firmware
integrity,” said Anthony Ambrose, President and CEO of Data I/O
Corporation. “The SentriX Platform enables a trusted, secured, and
cost-effective solution for OEMs seeking to secure the supply chain and
maintain firmware integrity. Data I/O is excited to partner with Renesas
and SecureThingz to enable this comprehensive solution supporting the
Synergy Platform products throughout the OEM product lifecycle.”

“With the advent of the IoT, the protection of the design, software,
intellectual property, and integrity of products is becoming paramount
to the OEM. Traditional security technology is unable to defend against
rapidly advancing threats,” said Haydn Povey, Founder and CTO of Secure
Thingz. “We are excited to work with Renesas and Data I/O to enable OEMs
to deploy secure content to devices, creating robust foundations and
delivering innovative features on Synergy Platform.”

Renesas plans to introduce Renesas Synergy’s security reference solution
at embedded world 2017 to be held in Nuremberg, Germany from March 14th
to 16th 2017, at Renesas booth Hall 4, Stand 104. For more
information, contact your local Renesas sales representative, or visit www.renesassynergy.com.

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723)
delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor
solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to
enhance the way people work and live - securely and safely. The number
one global
supplier of microcontrollers, and a leader in Analog & Power and SoC
products, Renesas provides the expertise, quality, and comprehensive
solutions for a broad range of Automotive, Industrial, Home Electronics,
Office Automation and Information Communication Technology applications
to help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com.

(Remarks) SentriX is a trademark of Data I/O Corporation. Secure Deploy
is a trademark of Secure Thingz. Renesas Synergy is a trademark of
Renesas Electronics Corporation. All other registered trademarks or
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.